The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement

Chef Damien Styles moves north

Natascha Mirosch

Chef Damien Styles has left Brisbane and gone back to his Noosa roots. The former co-owner of jamjar in the West End has taken a position at Berardo's in Noosa's Hastings Street, to help it through the busy period up to and including the Noosa Food and Wine Festival in May.

It's been a good 20 years since Styles has been on home turf, having spent time in Sydney and Melbourne before returning to Queensland in 2011. Things in his old stamping ground have changed substantially, he says.

"It's so much bigger now. When I left, Noosaville wasn't anything much; now it has some great places like David Rayner's (Thomas Corner). Hasting Street, on the other hand, seems to have lost some of its lustre; I guess the massive rents are contributing to empty sites."

Styles says that he finds it gratifying that chefs are becoming less metro-centric.

"Noosa's always had a pretty good food culture, but it's nice to see some talented chefs realising it's not just all about the city."

Advertisement

Styles doesn't have plans yet beyond the Berardo's gig, but says he's looking forward to attending the Noosa International Food and Wine Festival for the first time.

"I've heard a lot of good things and am excited about being part of it; beyond that I don't have any plans."

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.

Sign up

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement